I-394 Lane Reductions and New Seasonal Load Restrictions Take Effect Today

Morning Commute Overview

Minneapolis drivers should prepare for a challenging commute this Tuesday, March 3, 2026, as several major construction projects enter critical phases and new seasonal road regulations take effect. The most significant impact remains on the western side of the metro, where long-term improvements on I-394 are causing daily congestion during peak hours.

Major Construction: I-394 and I-494

Commuters traveling between downtown Minneapolis and the western suburbs will face significant delays on westbound I-394. The highway has been reduced to two lanes between downtown and Highway 100 as part of a major reconstruction project. Additionally, the Penn Avenue bridge over I-394 is completely closed to traffic and is expected to remain out of service through November. Drivers are encouraged to use Highway 55 or I-394’s HOV lanes where applicable to bypass the heaviest bottlenecks.

In the south metro, the I-494 corridor in Bloomington is seeing increased activity. Specifically, the entrance and exit ramps at Nicollet Avenue are currently closed. Looking ahead, MnDOT has announced a full weekend closure of I-494 in both directions between I-35W and Highway 77, which will begin this Friday, March 6, at 10 p.m. and last until Monday morning.

Spring Load Restrictions Begin Today

Effective 12:01 a.m. today, Tuesday, March 3, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has implemented Spring Load Restrictions for the metro frost zone. These seasonal weight limits are designed to protect roads during the spring thaw when they are most vulnerable to damage. While this primarily affects heavy commercial vehicles and freight carriers, commuters may notice changes in truck routing and potential delays on local secondary roads as heavy traffic moves to higher-capacity arteries. In nearby Shakopee and surrounding suburbs, some residential services, such as alley-side waste collection, may be diverted to street pickup starting next week due to these restrictions.

Public Transit and Light Rail

Metro Transit is currently operating on its standard winter schedule. While there are no major service disruptions reported for the Blue or Green lines this morning, riders should keep in mind that quarterly service changes are scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 14. Additionally, construction near the future METRO E Line stations at 54th Street and 62nd Street on France Avenue continues to cause local detours for bus routes in the area. Commuters using these routes should check the NexTrip app for real-time adjustments.

Commuter Recommendations

• Plan for Extra Time: Allow an additional 15–20 minutes if your route involves westbound I-394 or the I-494/I-35W interchange.
• Watch for Heavy Trucks: With load restrictions in place, expect more heavy vehicles to utilize major highways rather than side roads.
• Check Ramps: Avoid the Nicollet Avenue ramps on I-494; use Portland Avenue or Lyndale Avenue as alternatives.